Moorosi Tsiane
AFRICAN Union Sports Council (AUSC) regional organising committee chairperson, Stanley Mutoya, is confident that Lesotho will successfully host the upcoming Region 5 Games.
The Region 5 Games are penned in for 3 to 12 December 2021 in Maseru.
Mutoya said this in when addressing the media in Maseru on the side lines of a three-day workshop with the games’ clusters this week.
He said they have inspected all the facilities to be used for the games and they were satisfied with the progress.
“This is a critical phase of the preparations because it is our last meeting before the games,” Mutoya said.
“We are confident that Lesotho is ready to host the games after this week’s infrastructure inspection.
“We are happy with the facilities and are aware that there are some touch ups that must be be done but nothing major. We are operating in the difficult times of Covid-19, so we cannot expect the country to channel all its funds to the construction of stadiums while the government must fulfil other obligations.”
Lesotho is expecting 2000 athletes and officials from 13 countries in 11 sporting codes namely athletics, boxing, basketball, gymnastics, netball, football, judo, tennis, swimming, taekwondo and volleyball.
“This year we will have 13 countries participating because Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar have been invited for the games and will participate in football. We have 1997 athletes accredited but the number might be trimmed when we finalise the lists.
“Lehakoe is also ready for basketball games, Maseru Club will be hosting netball while tennis will be played at the national tennis courts. The Rapokolana facility will be used for swimming and it also needs a few touches. Taekwondo and judo will be hosted at the Lesotho High School hall which is also ready. Our games villages will be at the National University of Lesotho and the Lesotho College of Education.”
He said the games will be held under strict Covid-19 protocols and all participants are expected to be vaccinated.
The draw for the team sports be conducted tomorrow.
